Monatsarchive: Juni 2013

Speculations about the possible acquisition of EVA/UNI MD-90s by Delta Air Lines within the “MD-80 International Forum” appears to be correct. Despite no official press release, there is a strong rumor coming from another forum (Delta´s pilot forum) and this rumor sounds very realistic and exactly fits into the speculative scenarios regarding these MD-90s. According to these rumor, Taiwanese company EVA Air confirmed their plans to phase out the MD-90 and the president of EVA Air is quoted that “all eleven of the MD-90s are being sold to Delta Air Lines, with five scheduled to be transferred next year, three more in 2015 and the last three in 2016“.

In the meantime, Delta Air Lines is actually the biggest and most important MD-80/-90-operator worldwide, the last remaining DC-9-operator among US-majors, and is due to introduce the Boeing 717 during late summer 2013.

Boeing announced on June 25, 2013 that Volotea Airlines will add five additional Boeing 717s in 2013 to their fleet of ten airplanes. The manufacturer also announced on the same day that QantasLink will receive five additional Boeing 717s (as reported). These aircraft will be delivered from late 2013 onwards with a modified seating-arrangement including a Business Class. QantasLink currently operates 13 Boeing 717s.

Bulgarian Air Charter took delivery of an additional ex-Alitalia MD-82 (ex I-DACZ). This aircraft received her new registration LZ-LDS. AerSale arranged the ferry-flights of two additional ex-Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) MD-90s: N452AS (ex-ex HZ-AP4) and N641AS (ex HZ-AP3) were both ferried from Saudi Arabia to the USA.

American Airlines plans to increase the number of seats in their MD-80s and Boeing 737s. The new total capacity for each of these planes are officially not yet known. The current seating-capacity of the MD-80 of American Airlines is 140 passengers.

The Taiwanese “Civil Aeronautics Administration” (CAA) announced at the end of May 2013 that they would propose to the “Ministry of Transportation and Communications” that Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT) could be temporarily barred from access to new routes following a series of incidents during the last weeks that “exposed safety issues with the airline”.

FAT experienced several incidents including an engine shut-down after an apparent bird-strike and a return to the departure airport of one of their MD-82, the encounter of large hail resulted in a shattered wind-screen and dented nose of an MD-83 while trying to deviate from a thunderstorm cell and a landing overrun of an MD-82 during rainy weather on a temporary shortened runway. The deputy director of the CAA was quoted that “the CAA had formed a task force and conducted a thorough inspection of the airline from May 2 to May 8“. He also added that the “CAA is scheduled to inspect the airline again on June 14“, adding “that further measures could be implemented if the airline does not address its safety issues”. Last but not least he said that “the average age of the airline’s six aircraft is between 14 and 15 years and as such, they are considered old aircraft”.

The last statement could have an impact of a possible and accelerated replacement of the MD-80-fleet because of the reaction of the media and public due to the (false) impression that older aircraft are not as safe as newer ones.